Monday April 9th -54th DAY
Well , this looks like the day of days for us – extra good news this morning –BBC Gottingan (25km N W from us) has fallen, 10km from Enden, 10 from Brenan, 9kms fromHanover, and other people – Received mint tea – Igot on a fatigue party that had to go to factory along road and fetch wood for our camp - given sweetened coffee there – also told big tank battle going on 8km from us,also Dunderadt and area 15km around it ordered to be prepared to be taken over by Yanks today. Civvies at factory say that Yanks will be here in 2 hours time, others say at midday – back at camp we heard mortar fire not far away – also bursts of machine gun fire – plenty of planes overhead, but can’t see them owing to low lying mist. Could see Jerries retreating, then battle was on us, around us , and machine gun fire over us –we kept pretty low, some rushed down into air raid shelter , others stayed in barracks – everyone was curious and kept peeping out - first we could see Jerries falling back,and then Yanks came with their Tommy guns – anti tank guns and tanks – jeeps and trucks - bullets whistling overhead us and along road close by - Jerries were seen to hold their hands up surrendering and our VS guards all went for their lives, leaving their rifles – tanks rolled by - machine guns fire – then a quietness - at 12 o’clock noon today we were
-FREED-
By yanks of Fighting 2nd –three jeeps arrived at our Lager containing officers , and men and we just mobbed them . Well up to this I hadn’t felt myself showing any signs of excitement , inwardly or outwardly - just watching what part of fighting we could see and listening to noise, as if it was just an every day occurrence – there was a Canadian beside me in air raid shelter when I was there for awhile and he said he was ready to drop with pent up emotions. I had often visualised myself earlier as being all het-up, but my usual feeling surprised me, probably because I couldn’t realize it all - but believe me when the Yanks came to our gates and we were shaking them by their hands and talking to them , well I got a different feeling altogether- I just welled up inside and thought Thank God it has come at last – Freedom. The Yanks chased the Jerries right through Dudenstadt and into surrounding hillspast it . The Yanks gave us what fags and food they had – my first fag being a Lucky Strike –and how lucky it was o us today. Our boys mounted a guard on our Lager after the VS guards had run off after leaving their rifles. Parties of boys left camp on scrounging parties. Dale and I tried to get out but a guard turned us back, threatened Dale with rifle and said they would take our names and report us – they were a couple of Pongers (Tommies) and we told them we had been under Jerry domination for four years and we didn’t want the likes of others telling us what to do – anyhow, we went back into camp around to the back and busted out two stakes in fence and went through along railway line and into village to where a tank company had its HQ and boy the Yanks certainly made a fuss of us – one gave me 3 K rations and plenty of fags , the other two boys,Dale and Tom Low, got fags also. We met up with Max Ritter whotook us along to a consorpt lager where there was a small party of them there as a lazaertt, they had tons of food there and gave us a good feed and grub to bring away withus, also cigars in boxes and fags.After awhile we went back to tank HQ again and arrived there at tea time and what a tea they gave us – thick rich soup with peas and carrots mixed –beetroot, boiled rice and whitebread with plenty of butter – and creamed rice and sliced peaches or pineapple with thick milk and sugar over it to follow, also lovely brew of sweetened milked coffee and boy was all this lovely- these yanks certainly live well as front line troops – after a yarn with Yanks we went back to Lager laden down with smokes and spuds for the boys. Boys streaming in from village laden down with fags, food, spuds, sausage, fowls, everything. Boys in great spirits – especially when we received a K ration per man from Yanks. Well this has been a great day for us – one that we will never forget as long as we live.
Tuesday April 10th – 55th DAY
No sleep last night , everyone too excited to sleep - spent night yarning about different things and cooking up on stove –we had a fry-up at about 4.00am than another big fry-up at 10am.What I forgot to mention yesterday was that at the tankHQ and at the Lagertts where Max was we were given a lot of Jerry brandy or cognac – Dale and Tom didn’t want theirs so I drank it all and after awhile started to feel the affects,so I can say that I got a bit tipsy on day we were freed. Also yesterday we were given blank forms to fill in to advise our people about being freed. All night long artillery rumbled in our area, planes flew overhead and very lights Harning up. In morning I went into Donderstadt on my own for a walk - went through main streets and mingled with Jerry civilians who showed a lot of courtesy. Yanks in jeeps everywhere – I had lunch at a red Cross unit – rissoles, mashed spuds, steamed beans, white bread and pineapple, also good coffee – managed to get a tin of milk and some molasses and later on Doug Butterworth (Aussie) and I went searching for a bakery for bread - purloined a loaf each off a cart after we had had a door slammed in our faces - the cart was guarded by two small boys but we had no scruples about taking a loaf each – then we headed back to camp not feeling best in afternoon - in night felt crook again – sick and diarrhoea again.
Wednesday April 11th – 56th DAY
Dale, Harry Richardson and I went for walk in morning along to next village – yarned with Yankee booys – signallers – great crowd - gave us a feed and eggs and plenty of fags. Fifty men went through showers and delousing – and left camp in truck for rear evacuation hospital. These Yankies certainly look after us -around the barracks there is tons of food lying—American and German, in fact you can’t give some of it away, different from a few days ago when every one was waiting for stews and rations to come up and everyting had to be divided fairly – now they ask if you want the different things. Some of the boys are collecting some fine souvenirs;Luger pistols, bayonets, cameras, watches etc – different war correspondents have visited us and written down our stories and experiences since being march – heard this morning that 3500 of our boys had been machine gunned and buried in a quarry. Yanks bringing up plenty of war materials – heavy tanks etc and now aerodromes are quite close.
Thursday April 12th -57thDAY
Had our first bowl of porridge and thick powdered milk this morning, boy it was great. Jack Sanders and I went for a walk in to Dudenstedt this morning – couldn’t pick anything up in way of souvenirs, saw number of Jerry POW- a Yank gave Jack a cracker to light to throw amongst them – you should have seen them scatter. Three English war correspondents- 2 men, 1 woman, picked jack and I up at police station and we took them along to the brick factory and told them the whole story – they were astounded , brought them along to Jews Lager and they interviewed some of the other boys. This afternoon rest of us went through showers and delousing – now waiting for truck to take us away.
LEFT GERMAN SOIL 2-25PM
Friday April 13th
Truck arrived in afternoon – on road to evacuation hospital we saw very little sign of any battle having taken place, very little Jerry fortification , but there were plenty of white flags flying from village houses we passed – number of dead horses lying about. Arrived at 103rd Evac Hosp - given tea here, particulars taken and owing to camp being full up we were put into ambulances and driven through night to big hospital situated on aerodrome at Kassell – what we could see of Kassell it certainly had had a hell of a pounding – big bomb craters everywhere and rubble and debris showing where buildings had all stood. In afternoon we had passed through Gottingen which had also been done over the same way – plenty of French, Polish and other foreign consumption workers roaming countryside, all happy as to being free from Jerry domination. At Kassell transit hospital more particulars taken,and bedded down for night.
Friday April 13th -58th DAY
4.20pm landed at Reims in france
Good breakfast - these Yanks certainly know how to live – heard that Roosevelt had died suddenly – also last nights news was mentioning about bad treatment Jerry was giving POWs. Air transports arriving in all morning - lunch - got a surprise this afternoon. Ham Gordon walked into our tent – he had dodged NCO’s column the first day out and had been hiding out for 9 days - helped by Polish farm workers – got mixed up with battle between Jerries and Yankee tanks – eventually liberated - rode back on motor transports carrying Jerry prisoners - truck he was in was overturned – driver drunk – Ham sustained cut over left eye and other abrasions – three jerries killed, numerous hurt. I was very glad to see him. About ten past two 27 of us called out to go away – put into ambulances, taken to air strip into planes and at 2.25pm we said goodbye to German soil – thank goodness. Up in air we had a good view of Kassell – certainly a mess - bomb crates everywhere – air pockets are bad – so far no one sick . Started to come into some bumpy stuff – two or three of boys are sick now – having a great view of countryside – can see where villages and factories have been bombed and craters along roads and at junctions where convoys had been attacked – passed over Rhein river – saw blown up bridges – missed seeing Siegfreid Line, probably because I was feeling a bit Squeamish myself – arrived at large aerodrome – buildings of course all wrecked by bombs –landed in France at 2 minutes past four – aerodrome a few miles from Reims - taken to Yank hospital – had lovely tea – a real fresh fried steak – I shouldn’t have eaten it, but I just couldn’t resist the temptation - nine men to a ward – and sleeping between sheets on a lovely soft mattress - given pyjamas,and dressing gown –and American sisters and nurses attending to us - radio playing real Yank dance music – boy we are certainly getting back to civilisation again now. Doctor came round and questioned us as to any ailments –I told him that my diarrhoea was practically better – had a bit of a gastric stomach – due to too rich a food after living for long while on very little. Mentioned about my cough – examined me and said it was slight touch of bronchitis. Wel, today was Friday the 13th , generally looked upon by some as unlucky, but to us it was our lucky day as we shook the dust of Germany off our boots and said goodbye to a country which as regards our experiences and treatment as POWs we will probably never forget. So far I haven’t realized yet that I am free – it all seem like a dream – probably too weak to think much as what I seem to want to do all the time is just lie down and rest - too much walking about or standing up plays me out very quickly.
Saturday – April 14th
Lovely morning – had good nights rest – tasty breakfast this morning - porridge and flap jacks - Doctor came round to see us. I’m feeling fairly ok bar for general weakness – Lounged round all day
Sunday April 15th
Left FrenchSoil 1.10AM
12.15 arrived at Channel
12.25 sighted England – landed at Newberry 1.19pm
Sunday April 15th
Told this morning to get ready to leave for England by ambulance to aerodrome – pilot told us we would land in newburry inEngalnd in about two hours time - left France at 11-10am – we’re off – had a good view of French countryside - saw areas of bombed villages with hundreds of crates - large airfields – also which showed signs of bombing - greta thrill tosee English channel – the roads and villages close to the beach were justa mass of ruins and bomb and shell holes, due to pounding they received prior to invasion – crossed channel and at 12.25pm had our first view of England – passed over some lovely English countryside – we were impressed by the irregularity of the fields compared with the very square and rectangular fields of the continent, also by the green hedges surrounding the fields. The first thing of old England I saw from the air was an English castle surrounded by a moat – saw a number of English homesteads in beautiful treeand garden surroundings. Landed on English soil at Newburry 1-19pm – put into a bus and driven toYank hospital at Chiseldon – here we met two British Red Cross ladies who gave us fags and sweets and took telegrams for us to send to our people. I wrote a letter to Gorgie Lawson – spent evening in American Red Cross recreation hut – feel very strange to be amongst the Yank soldiers and red Cross girls. Hope to be transferred to our own military authorities tomorrow.
Monday April 16th
Couldn,t sleep much last night – too excited and thoughts of going back home to Dorren. Harry,Dale and I went for a walk into the village of Chiseldon this morning and was given our first cup of English tea for a few months – talk of us moving this afternoon. Still here - story is that we move tomorrow. Nothing much to do here except lie about. Did some good eating today – breakfast –porridge, cream , scrambled eggs - lunch-salmon peas, beetroot,sweetened corn, fruitsalad, tea – ham, mashed spuds, raisins, spinach , fruit salad and cream.
Tuesday April 17th – BIRTHDAY
Good dleep last night – arrangements in hand to move us this morning - left early in afternoon – Bristish red Cross ambulance driven by Canadian girls took us to railhead – entrained on red Cross train, given tea, sandwiches, cake ( lovely Madeira and fruit cake), cigatrettes – given airgraph forms to write home with – the red Cross ladies couldn’t do enough for us – travelled to Trentam – here we were given great welcome by red Cross and ARP workers and civvies – by ambulance to civilian hospital in Shrewsbury ( Shropshire) – and here the welcome and attention was marvellous – we arrived at about 11pm - bathed - given pyjamas, and then given bacon , egg and fried bread – also brea and butter and tea – had two helpings of bacon and egg, we astounded the nurses with our appetites – then to bed, very tired after our days travelling. The boys toasted my birthday witha bottle of English beer.
Wednesday April 18th
Had a good rest . Red cross lady came around with DUT forms to send home which cost in 25 words fro 10/5 and 5p each additional word. I sent two - a RAMC corporal came round to see about getting pay for us – An English RAMC major spoke to us about leave and pay which applied to Tommies only – another Red Cross laidy brought around toothpaste, brushes and soap, writing material , etc. Doctor interviewed us. Everybody is doing as much as they can to help us and make us comfortable - nurses and sisters here are very pleasant and do us much as they can for us - we astounded them with our huge appetites . Some of the boys have had their mother and wives and sweethearts hereto see them already – what a marvellous moment for them, it makes me think of Doreen and mother back home and the time I will first meet them. Wrote letters to Joyce Lawson, NZ House,Bank of NZ. Beautiful weather , very hot lying in bed – had a luxury this morning - a hot bath –boy it was great . I’m feeling fine – a bit tired on it, and a huge appetite. Sister weighted us last night - I’m 9st 13lb 11ozs – a bit of a drop from 12st 4lbs.
Thursday April 19th
Red Cross helpers around with books and lists of missing boys, asking enquiries - paid today -2 pound – had our sizes taken for clothes etc. X-rayed this afternoon in chest. We get lovely meals here – not so varied and high class as American food, but plainer and more to our style of living – in fact for the state of our stomachs more suitable - first thing inmorning is cup of tea - breakfast; porridge or corn cakes, scrambled egg and fried bread, a boiled egg- lunch; mashed potatoes, meat , peas, date pudding, creamed rice or egg custard or jam tart, tea , bread and scones or buns - supper - for every meal plenty of bread and a much better bread than American – its not so white and seems to have more body in it.
The letters and telegrams are arriving for the boys and numbers of parents, wives , etc are arriving – we’re expecting replies to our telegrams any day now.